GLOSSARY FOR THE STUDY OF JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY, AND ISLAM
Version 9401 (1994 January), uncopyrightable factual information
Prepared initially by Robert A. Kraft, University of Pennsylvania,
and intended to be used freely in the public domain in this and
any updated versions (based partly on materials from introductory
textbooks by Phillip Sigal, Jacob Neusner, Michael Fishbane,
Sandra Frankiel, R. Dean Peterson, Frederick Denny, Kenneth Cragg,
F. E. Peters; see also Cyril Glassé, The Concise Encyclopedia
of Islam [Harper, 1989]). Corrections, additions, and suggestions
will be greatfully accepted: kraft@ccat.sas.upenn.edu.
Coding:
| <t>...</> |
indicates the title of a book or similar work. |
| <a>...</> |
Arabic word, especially used in Islamic studies. |
| <h>...</> |
Hebrew (or Aramaic) word, especially used in Judaism. |
| <g>...</> |
Greek word, especially used in Christianity. |
| <l>...</> |
Latin word, especially used in Christianity. |
Note that in the Semitic languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, Arabic), the apostrophe and
reversed apostrophe distinguish between two different "a" letters.
Click Here to go up the previous section of the glossary.
Sabbath
The seventh day of the week (Heb., <h>shabbat</>), recalling the completion of
the creation and the Exodus from Egypt. It is a day symbolic of new beginnings and one dedicated to
God, a most holy day of rest. The
commandment of rest is
found in the Bible and has been
elaborated by the rabbis. It
is a special duty to study Torah on the Sabbath
and to be joyful. Sabbaths near major festivals (see
calendar) are known by special names.
Sabbatianism
A messianic movement begun in the 17th century by Sabbatai Zvi/Zebi (1626-1676), who
ultimately converted to Islam.
sacrament
Especially in classical Christianity, a formal religious rite (e.g. baptism, eucharist)
regarded as sacred for its perfect ability to convey divine blessing; in some traditions (especially
Protestant), it is regarded as not effective in itself but as a sign or symbol of spiritual reality or truth.
sacrifice (Latin, "perform a sacred act")
A general term for the giving up of things of value for religious
purposes, such as (1)
liturgical sacrifices of animal life
or of other valuables (grain, wine, etc.), and (2) personal sacrifices of time
or money or talents or potential (e.g. taking holy
orders). In
classical Christianity, the death
of Jesus is
interpreted as a sacrifice for sin on behalf
of humankind. Islam retains a liturgical
use of animal sacrifice especially in connection with the
hajj (see also calendar).
sacrilege
A general term for violation of that which is considered sacred.
See blasphemy, shirk.
ṣadaqāt (or zadakat; Arabic)
Charity (voluntary alms), going beyond the obligatory
zakat tax; righteous acts.
Sadducees
An early Jewish
sub-group whose origins and ideas are uncertain. It probably arose
early in the 2nd century BCE and ceased to exist when the
Temple was destroyed in 70 CE. Sadducees
supported priestly
authority and rejected
traditions not directly grounded
in the Pentateuch, such as
the concept of personal, individual life after death. They are
often depicted as in conflict with the Pharisees.
Safavid
A Shiite Iranian/Persian dynasty that fought
against the Ottoman rulers.
sage
For Judaism, see hakam.
saint
Name given to persons considered to be "holy." Used in a special sense in
Roman Catholicism for deceased persons who are believed to have entered God's presence (see heaven)
and thus can provide special benefits to humankind (e.g. intercession by the saints). Used more generally in protestant Christianity for all believers. See also wali, zaddik.
sakīna (Arabic)
Sakina is a divine "tranquility"
that is believed to descend when the Quran is recited.
Ṣalāt (Arabic)
Salat designates the obligatory Muslim prayer service held five times daily, one of the five pillars of Islam (din).
salvation
In Christian thought, most generally, liberation from the power and effects of sin; often
refers to an experience or series of experiences leading to a sense of liberation; sometimes refers to the
expected liberation of a Christian after death.
Samaritans
Another of the numerous sub-groups in early Judaism (see also Sadducees, Pharisees,
Essenes) and residents of the district of Samaria north of Jerusalem and Judah in what is now Israel. They
are said to have recognized only the Pentateuch as scripture and Mt. Gerizim as the sacred center rather
than Jerusalem. There was ongoing hostility between Samaritans and Judahites. Samaritan communities
exist to the present.
Sanhedrin (from Greek for "assembly" [of persons seated together]; see also synagogue, church)
A legislative and judicial body from the period of early Judaism and into rabbinic times.
Traditionally composed of 71 members.
Satan (Hebrew, "accuser/adversary")
The opponent of God (or of God's supporters) in Hebrew tradition (and thence into Christianity and Islam) who is often depicted as a fallen angel
(also called "the Devil"; in Arabic
Iblis) amd is considered to be
in charge of evil and its influences (with "demons" as his aides),
and to rule over Hell until the
final judgment (see
<a>yawm al-din</>).
Ṣawm or ṣaum (Arabic)
Sawm refers to "fasting" during daylight in the month of Ramadan, one of the
five pillars of Islam (din).
sayyid (Arabic)
A title borne by descendants of the Prophet Muḥammad.
schism (Greek, "split, division")
See great schism.
schismatic
One who causes a split or division (schism). See heretic, min.
scholasticism
A general term for highly organized and highly rationalistic scholarly developments and
discussions according to well developed conventions. In Christianity, the rise of universities in 12th-13th
century Europe was a high-point for scholasticism (e.g. Thomas Aquinas). Judaism and Islam experienced
similar scholastic flourishing in that general period in the west (and earlier in the east, especially for Islam).
scriptures
General designation for canonical or biblical writings.
sect
A general designation for a definable sub-group, often with negative overtones. See also cult, denomination.
secular (Latin, "of this world")
A general term for non-religious, or the opposite of religious.
seder (Heb., for "order"; pl. sedarim)
The traditional Jewish evening service and opening of the celebration of Passover, which
includes special food symbols and narratives. The order of the service is highly regulated, and the
traditional narrative is known as the Passover Haggadah. Also one of the six divisions of the Mishna; or one of the 154
sections into which Torah/Pentateuch is divided for a three year cycle of liturgical readings
in synagogue. See also siddur.
See (from Latin, "seat")
A term used in Christianity to refer to the ecclesiastical location of a bishop's authority
(e.g. "the See of Rome"), and by extension to the authority itself.
semikah (Heb.)
Rabbinic ordination.
Sephardim (adj. Sephardic; Heb., Sephardi)
The designation Sepharad in biblical times refers to a colony of exiles from Jerusalem
(Obadiah 20), possibly in or near Sardis{??}; in the medieval period, Sephardi(c) Jews are those descended
from those who lived in Spain and Portugal (the Iberian peninsula) before the expulsion of 1492. As a cultural
designation, the term refers to the complex associated with Jews of this region and its related diaspora in
the Balkans and Middle East (especially in Islamic countries). The term is used in contradistinction to
Ashkenazi, but it does not refer, thereby, to all Jews of non-Ashkenazi origin.
sephira(h) or sefira (Heb., "counting, number"; pl. sefirot)
See also omer. In Jewish kabala, the sefirot are the primary emanations or manifestations of deity that together make up the fulness
(<g>pleroma</>) of the godhead.
Septuagint
Strictly speaking, refers to the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Pentateuch,
probably made during the reign of Ptolemy II, Greek ruler of Egypt around 250 BCE. Subsequently, Greek
translations of other portions of the Jewish scriptures came to be added to the corpus, and the term
Septuagint was applied to the entire collection. Such collections served as the "scriptures" for
Greek speaking Jews and Christians.
Seveners or Ismailis
One of the more influential Shiite groups,
emphasizing secrecy and certain gnostical ideas.
Split off from the main Shiite stream
(see twelvers) at the 7th generation of recognized successive leaders,
in 765 CE. See also ‘Alawīs,
Druzes.
shabbat (Heb., "rest")
The Sabbath.
Shabbatai Zvi
See Sabbatianism.
Shahāda (Arabic, "witnessing")
The formal content of the shahada(h) witness is the Kalima(h): "There is no god but
God (Allah),
and Muhammad is the messenger (rasul) of
God," which serves as a kind of minimal creed
for Muslims and is one of the pillars of Islam
(din). The Arabic form is: <a>Lā ilāha illā
Allāh, Muhammad rasūl Allāh</>.
Shammai
See Hillel.
Sharī‘a(h) (Arabic, "way to the water")
Sharia is the "way" of Islam (see fiqh; compare halaka) in accord with the
Quran and Sunna
(hadith), ijma
and qiyas. It is the comprehensive path of duty
for Muslims, including
law, ritual, and life in general.
Shavuot/Shabuot (Pentecost;
Heb., "weeks")
Observed 50 days from the day the first sheaf of grain was offered to the
priest; also known as Festival of First Fruits.
See calendar.
shaykh (Arabic)
Word meaning an old man with grey hairs, a term that came to mean a respected leader
and in Islam a religious teacher or person learned in religion or respected for piety.
Shekinah
Jewish term for the divine presence; the Holy Spirit.
In Kabalism it sometimes took
on the aspect of the feminine element in deity.
Shema (Heb., "hear")
Title of the fundamental, monotheistic statement of Judaism, found in Deut. 6:4
("Hear, O Israel, the LORD is our God,
the LORD is One"; <h>shema Yisrael YHWH
elohenu YHWH ehad</>). This statement avers the unity of God,
and is recited daily in the liturgy
(along with Deut. 6:5-9, 11.13-21; Num. 15.37-41 and other passages),
and customarily before sleep at
night. This proclamation also climaxes special
liturgies (like Yom Kippur),
and is central to the confession before death and the ritual of martyrdom.
The Shema is inscribed on the mezuzah
and the tefillin. In public services,
it is recited in unison.
Shemini Atzeret (the Eighth Day of Assembly)
An eight-day festival that immediately follows the seven-day
festival of Sukkot (Tabernacles). See also
calendar.
shemoneh esreh (Heb., "eighteen")
The main section of Jewish prayers
recited in a standing position (see amida)
and containing 19 (yes!) "benedictions": praise to
(1) God of the
fathers/patriarchs,
(2) God's power and
(3) holiness; prayers for (4) knowledge, (5) repentance, (6) forgiveness,
(7) redemption, (8) healing sick persons, (9) agricultural prosperity,
(10) ingathering the diaspora,
(11) righteous judgment,
(12) punishment of wicked and heretics
(birkat haminim, (13) reward of pious,
(14) rebuilding Jerusalem,
(15) restoration of royal house of David,
(16) acceptance of prayers, (17) thanks to God, (18) restoration of
Temple worship, and (19) peace.
sheol (Heb.)
Place of departed dead in (some) ancient Israel thought, without reference to punishments and rewards. See also hell, heaven.
Shī‘a (Arabic, "party," of ‘Ali)
The Shī‘ites believe that Muhammad designated his son-in-law, ‘Ali, to succeed him as
leader of the umma of Islam; members of the Shiite communities
(which often vary from each other on important issues) number about 10 to 15 percent
of the total Muslim community today. See also Sunna,
from which Shiite Islam often differs radically in a variety of ways
(e.g. interpretation of Quran,
eschatology, jurisprudence, worship).
shirk (Arabic)
In Islam, "association" of something with
God, thus "idolatry,"
the one unforgiveable sin according to the Quran.
shiva (Heb., "seven")
Seven days of mourning after the burial of a close relative
(as in, "to sit shiva"). See also abelut,
shloshim.
shloshim (Heb., "thirty")
An intermediate stage of 30 days of less severe mourning,
including shiva.
shofar
In Jewish worship, Ram's horn sounded at
Rosh Hashanah morning worship
and at the conclusion of Yom Kippur, as well
as other times in that period during the fall.
Shulhan Aruch (Heb., "prepared table")
A code of Jewish law attributed to Joseph Karo in 1565 CE, which became authoritative for classical Judaism.
siddur (from Heb., to order)
Jewish prayer book used for all days except special holidays (see seder). See also liturgy.
Simhat Torah (Heb., "rejoicing with the Torah")
A festival which celebrates the conclusion of the annual reading cycle of the Torah. See calendar.
simony
The sin of attempting to purchase spiritual gifts, named after Simon the magician in the
NT story in Acts 8.
sin
Transgression or offense against God's
laws or wishes;; more generally in Christian belief,
a continuing state of estrangement from God. See also
original sin, shirk.
sira (Arabic)
The life story of Muhammad in Islam.
Gospel
Name given to the early 20th century
Protestant Christian movement or
perspective that placed its emphasis on the application to modern society
of the principles of the Gospel.
see also Liberal,
Modernist.
sola fidei, sola scriptura
Famous principles of the Lutheran
reformation emphasizing
"faith alone" as
the way to God, and
"scripture alone" as the
source of authority and guidance.
sopher or sofer (pl. <h>sopherim</>; Heb., "scribe")
Used as a general designation for scholars and copyists in both
talmudic and later literature; a "scholastic,"
a learned researcher whose vocation was the study and teaching of the
tradition. In early times the sopher was the scholar. By the 1st century he was no longer a real scholar but
a functionary and teacher of children.
stigmata (Greek, "puncture marks")
Used technically in some Christian groups and
traditions to refer to the miraculous
appearance on a living believer of wounds like those attributed to
Jesus (especially nail imprints in the
hands).
stoicism
An ancient Greek philosophical position contemporary with early
Platonism and
Aristotleianism that emphasized the
close relationship between human activity and nature, governed by
reason and law. Influenced early Judaism and early Christianity significantly
(e.g. Philo, Paul).
subjectivism
A modern position that emphasizes the personal nature of
truth. See also existentialism.
Ṣūfī (from Arabic for "wool"?)
Sufi is a general term for a Muslim mystic and/or ascetic.
Sufism refers to the mystical
path of Islam in general (not to a specific sect or
denomination).
Sukkot (Tabernacles) (Heb., "booths, tabernacles")
Seven-day Jewish fall festival beginning on Tishri 15 commemorating the sukkot where
Israel lived in the wilderness after the Exodus;
also known as <h>hag haasiph</>, the Festival of Ingathering (of the harvest).
See also calendar.
Sunna(h) (Arabic)
The "custom" of the prophet
Muhammad, that is, his words, habits, acts, and
gestures as remembered by the Muslims and preserved in the literary form of the
hadith reports. The Sunna is second in
authority only to the
Quran for Muslims.
Sunnīs
The majority of Muslims, who are viewed as connected to the
authoritative Sunna (<a>Ahl al-Sunna wa 'l-Jamā‘a</>
= people of the Sunna and the broad-based community) and believe that any good Muslim can be
leader; they prefer to reach agreements by means of consensus and do not
recognize special sacred wisdom in their leaders as Shiites
do.
sūra (Arabic)
In Islam, a sura(h) is a section ("chapter") of the
Quran, of which there are 114 in all.
Suras are subdivided into <a>āyāt</> or "verses."
synagogue (Greek for "gathering")
The central insitution of Jewish communal worship and study since antiquity (see also
bet midrash), and by extension,
a term used for the place of gathering. The structure of such buildings has changed,
though in all cases the ark containing the Torah scrolls faces
the ancient Temple site in
Jerusalem.
syncretism (Greek for "draw together, combine")
Synthesis of variegated religious beliefs
derived from more than one religion or
cultural/religious tradition. See also
eclectic,
assimilation.
synod (Greek, "gathering")
Technical term used especially in Christianity to designate formal convocations
(meetings) relating to church governance.
See Presbyterianism.
synoptic gospels
Name given to the first three Christian
NT gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke),
which view the story of Jesus
from the same general perspective.
Tabernacles, Festival/Feast of
See Sukkot.
tafsīr (Arabic, "explanation, commentary")
In Islam, tafsir refers to interpretation (especially of the
Quran), of which there are various types
(e.g. grammatical, historical, allegorical, traditional).
tallit
A large, four-cornered shawl with fringes and special knots
at the extremities, worn during Jewish morning
prayers. The fringes, according to
the Bible (Numbers 15.38-39), remind the worshiper of
God's commandments.
It is traditional for the male to be buried in his tallit,
but without its fringes.
Talmud (Heb., "study" or "learning")
Rabbinic Judaism produced two Talmuds:
the one known as "Babylonian" is the most famous in the western world,
and was completed around the fifth centuty CE; the other, known as the
"Palestinian" or "Jerusalem" Talmud, was edited perhaps
in the early fourth century CE. Both have as their common core the
Mishnah collection of the tannaim,
to which are added
commentary and discussion (gemara) by the
amoraim (teachers) of the respective locales.
Gemara thus has also become
a colloquial, generic term for the Talmud and its study.
TaNaK (Tanakh)
A relatively modern acronym for the Jewish
Bible, made up of the names of the three parts
Torah (Pentateuch or Law),
Nevi'im (Prophets), and
Ketuvim (Writings) — thus TNK
pronounced TaNaK.
tanna (Heb., "repeater, reciter"; adj. tannaitic, pl. tannaim)
A Jewish sage from the period of Hillel
(around the turn of the era) to the compilation of the Mishnah (200 CE),
distinguished from later amoraim.
Tannaim were primarily scholars and
teachers. The Mishnah,
Tosefta, and halakic
Midrashim were among their literary achievements.
taqlīd (Arabic)
In Muslim jurisprudence, taqlid denotes uncritical adoption
and imitation of traditional legal decisions.
Criticized by reform-minded legal thinkers as blind imitation —
the opposite of ijtihad.
Targum (Heb., "translation, interpretation")
Generally used to designate Aramaic translations of the Jewish
scriptures. See also Septuagint
(in a sense, Greek Targums).
Ṭarīqa (Arabic)
The Islamic Sufi special "way"
of discipline and mystical insight in contrast to the
sharia, the ordinary religious law; tariqa
can also refer to a specific Sufi organization or method of
meditation.
tawḥīd (Arabic)
Tawhid (or tauhid) means asserting and maintaining the
divine unity, Islam's central
doctrine.
ta‘zīya (Arabic, "consolation")
Specifically, in Islam taziya refers to a Shiite passion play
commemorating the tragic
death of the third Imam, Husayn (son of ‘Ali),
at Karbala, in 680 CE.
tefillin
Usually translated as "phylacteries." Box-like
appurtenances that accompany prayer,
worn by Jewish adult males at the weekday morning services. The boxes
have leather thongs attached and contain scriptural excerpts. One box (with four sections)
is placed on the head, the other (with one section) is placed (customarily)
on the left arm, near the heart. The biblical passages emphasize
the unity of God and the duty to love
God and be mindful of him with "all one's heart and mind"
(e.g. Exod. 13.1-10, 11-16; Deut. 6.4-9; 11.13-21). See also Shema.
temple
In the ancient world, temples were the centers of outward
religious life, places at which
public religious observances were normally conducted by the
priestly professionals. In
traditional Judaism, the only legitimate
Temple was the one in Jerusalem,
built first by king Solomon around 950 BCE,
destroyed by Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar around 587/6 BCE, and rebuilt
about 70 years later. It was
destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE. The site of the ancient Jewish Temple is
now occupied, in part, by the
golden domed "Dome of the Rock" Mosque. In recent times,
"temple" has come to
be used synonymously with synagogue in some Jewish usage.
testament
Term for an agreement between two (or more) parties, such as a "last will and
testament." In Jewish tradition,
the covenant concept played
an important role, and was translated
as "testament," especially in Christian references to the
scriptures of the "old
covenant" (OT) and the "new"
(NT).
testimony
A general term for "witness," used especially in
evangelical protestant
Christian circles for personal accounts of religious experience.
tetragrammaton (Greek, "four lettered [name]")
See YHWH.
theism
The position that affirms the existence of deity.
See also atheism, agnosticism.
theocracy
From Greek, "divine rule"; the idea that
God should be the ultimate ruler,
over or instead of human rulers. See zealots.
theology
From Greek, "study of deity";
a general term for discussions and investigations of things pertaining to
God(s), and by extension, to religious matters. One who engages
formally in theological studies is called a "theologian."
thirteen principles
Statement of classical
Jewish outlook (see belief) by
Maimonides. See handout for
details.
tilāwa (Arabic)
In Islam, tilawa is ritual recitation of the Quran.
tithe
Literally, a tenth part, usually with reference to prescribed or voluntary contributions to
one's religious community. "Tithing" is often used to refer in general to systematic giving, without specific reference to the exact percentage. See also zakat.
tongues
In Christian charismatic circles,
ecstatic utterance while in a state of religious excitation; sometimes regarded as a
special spiritual language (see NT Paul's 1 Corinthians
14.9) or ability to speak in different languages (see NT
Acts 2.1-15).
Torah, torah (Heb., "teaching, instruction")
In general, torah refers to study of the whole gamut of Jewish
tradition or to some aspect
thereof. In its special sense, "the Torah" refers to the
"five books of Moses" in the
Hebrew scriptures (see
Pentateuch). In the
Quran, "Torah" is the main term by which Jewish
scripture is identified.
Tosefta (pl. Tosafot) (Heb., "supplement")
Tannaitic supplements to the Mishnah. Called <h>beraita</> (extraneous
material) in the Talmud.
tradition(al)
Something perceived to have been handed down (or passed along) from the past, often
considered authoritative. See also mainstream, classical, orthodox.
transubstantiation
In Roman Catholic Christian dogma, the change, during the eucharist, of the substance
of bread and wine into the substance of Christ's body and blood — the "accidents" (taste, color,
shape) of the elements are believed to remain the same, but the substance or essence (in an Aristotleian
sense) changes into the holy elements of the sacrifice. This interpretation was largely rejected by Protestant reformers.
trinity
In classical Christian dogma, God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit exist
in perfect unity, as three "persons" in one God. The nature of this union was much debated in
classical Christianity, and Western and Eastern expressions differ. See also monarchian, unitarian.
truth
That which conforms to reality. For classical
Judaism, Christianity and Islam, ultimate truth is defined and determined in relation
to the ultimate reality, God. "The Truth"
is attested as a way of referring to the deity in
Islam (the execution of Hallaj is a memorable example), and to
Jesus in Christianity (Gospel of John).
twelvers
The main surviving sub-group of Shiite Islam,
named for its distinctive allegience to the imam
they count as the legitimate 12th in the succession. See also seveners,
Zaidis.
typology
A form of (usually biblical)
interpretation wherein a person, event, or institution is viewed as
foreshadowing a later one. For example, for Christian interpreters,
Abraham's intended sacri
fice of Isaac (Genesis 22) is seen as a "type" of the
sacrificial death of Christ.
tzaddik
See zaddik.
tzedakah
See zedakah.
‘ulamā' (Arabic)
The Ulama is the collective name for the top class of religious
officials in Islam — scholars
"learned" in Islamic law (see sharia,
fiqh).
‘Umar (or Omar)
Second successor (caliph)
to Muhammad (and a father-in-law). Sometimes called the
"St. Paul" of Islam because of his sudden conversion and his
success in spreading the message (including militarily).
Umma(h) (Arabic)
The Muslim "community" or ideal state worldwide.
Umayyad
The first major Muslim dynasty, established in Damascus by
Mu‘āwiya the nephew of
Uthman (of the Quraysh
clan from Mecca) after fierce rivalry with
‘Ali, the last of the four "rightly guided
caliphs." The events leading
to the Umayyad takeover were influential in the establishment of
Shiite Islam and also the
Kharijite movement.
After about a century (660-750 CE), the Umayyad dynasty
was defeated and replaced by the Abbasids
in Baghdad, but a branch of the Umayyads survived and
prospered for centuries in Spain.
‘umra (Arabic)
A "lesser pilgrimage,"
or religious visit to Mecca at a time other than
the appointed month for hajj (see also
calendar,
pillars).
unitarianism
A movement with roots in the
Radical Reformation of early
16th century protestant
Christianity which emphasized the oneness of deity
(monotheism, see also
monarchianism) by rejecting
the traditional doctrine
of trinity and pursuing a
rationalist approach to
religion. It became a distinct
denomination in early 19th
century England. In the 1960s, American Unitarianism dissocated itself from
Christianity.
universalism
The idea among some Christians that everyone will ultimately
attain to the heavenly reward (salvation).
unleavened (Greek <g>azyma</>)
See leaven.
usury
Old term for the principle of monetary interest, which is
prohibited or limited under certain conditions in the
scriptures of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
‘Uthmān (or Othman)
‘Uthman was the third successor (caliph)
to Muhammad, under whom an authorized
collection of Quran materials was established.
veneration
A general term for religious devotion to a particular object or person.
See saint, mawlid,
wali, zaddik,
icon, relic.
verbal inspiration
An idea especially important for Christian
protestant
fundamentalism/evangelicals,
holding that God established
the Bible as "inspired"
(usually interpreted to mean without error) in its literal meaning
(see literalism, allegory).
vicar
Substitute, representative, proxy;
one who takes the place of, or acts instead of, another.
In Roman Catholic Christianity, the pope
is considered the vicar of Christ. The pope (and other ecclesiastical
authorities) may designate their own vicar. In the Church of England,
the term is used to designate the priest who acts in a parish in place of the rector.
vicar of Christ
Term applied especially to the pope,
as the prime "representative" of Jesus
Christ in Roman Catholic
Christianity.
virgin Mary (Heb., Miriam, Greek Maria), virgin birth
The mother of Jesus/Joshua is
believed in classical Christian thought
to have conceived
and given birth to Jesus without losing her virginity (thus the
"perpetual virginity" of Mary). The
ideal of virginity became important for both women and men as classical
Christianity developed (see
celibacy,
monasticism), but in
protestant Christianity
(in reaction to Roman Catholicism),
there has tended to be much less emphasis on Mary or on virginity.
visionary
A general term for one who claims to (or is considered to) be
able to see into the future,
and/or is committed to changing the future in accord with particular ideals.
vulgate (Latin, "common, popular")
The official Roman Catholic
Latin version of the Bible, prepared or edited by Jerome
(Hieronymus) around the year 400. See also Septuagint.
Wahhābis
Adherents of the puritanical Muslim reform movement that arose in Arabia in the
eighteenth century under Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhāb (1703-1787) are called Wahhabis.
waḥy (Arabic)
In Islam, wahy refers to "revelation" of the
Quran to Muhammad by a kind of verbal/mental process of inspiration and communication.
walī (Arabic)
"Friend," "client," "kinsman," "patron"; in
English wali most often means Muslim "saint" or
"holy person."
yarmulke
See kiphah.
yawm al-dīn (Arabic, "day of
judgment")
A key eschatological
idea in Islam, paralleling the same concept in Judaism and
Christianity.
yeshivah (pl. yeshivot)
A Jewish rabbinic academy of higher learning.
See also beit midrash.
yetzer
A technical Heb. term for human "inclination" to do
good (yetzer ha-tov) or to
do evil (yetzer ha-ra).
YHWH (Yahweh)
The sacred name of God in Jewish
scriptures and tradition;
also known as the
tetragrammaton. Since Hebrew was written without
vowels in ancient times, the four consonants YHWH contain no clue to their original pronunciation.
They are generally rendered "Yahweh" in contemporary scholarship. In
traditional Judaism, the name is not pronounced,
but <h>Adonai</> ("Lord") or something similar is substituted.
In most English versions of the Bible the
tetragrammaton is represented by "LORD" (or less frequently, "Jehovah").
Yiddish (from German "Juedisch" or Jewish)
The vernacular of Ashkenazic Jews;
it is a combination of several languages, especially Hebrew and German, written in
Hebrew script.
yigdol/yigdal (from Heb., to be great; thence "Great is he")
A hymn/chant/poem from 11th century or earlier, frequently found at the beginning or end
of the Jewish prayer book (siddur).
Also found as an adopted Christian hymn.
Yom Kippur (Heb., "Day of Atonement")
Annual day of fasting and atonement,
occurring in the fall on Tishri 10 (just after Rosh
Hashanah); the most solemn and important occasion of the Jewish religious year.
See also calendar.
zadakat
See sadakat. Islamic voluntary almsgiving.
zaddik (Heb., "righteous one")
A general term for a righteous person in Jewish tradition.
More specifically, the spiritual leader of the modern Hasidim,
popularly known as rebbe.
See also saint.
zaidis
A sub-group of Islamic Shiites, with positions relatively
close to those of the Sunnis, by comparison to the
seveners or the twelvers.
zakāt (Arabic)
Zakat is legal almsgiving required as one of the five
pillars of Islam (din). See also
sadakat.
zealot (from Greek, to be enthusiastic)
A general term for one who exhibits great enthusiasm and dedication to a cause.
Specifically, a member of an early Jewish
group or perspective that advocated Jewish independance
(see theocracy) from Rome. See also
assassins.
zedakah (Heb., "righteousness"; see tzedakah)
Term in Judaism usually applied to deeds of charity and philanthropy.
Zion, Zionism
(Mount) Zion is an ancient Hebrew designation for Jerusalem,
but already in biblical times it began
to symbolize the national homeland (see e.g. Psalm 137.1-6). In this
latter sense it served as a focus for
Jewish national-religious hopes of renewal over the centuries. Ancient
hopes and attachments to Zion gave rise to Zionist longings and movements
since antiquity, culminating in the modern national liberation movement
of that name. The Zionist cause helped the Jews return to
Palestine in this century and
found the state of Israel in 1948.
The goal of Zionism is the political and spititual renewal of the Jewish
people in its ancestral homeland. See also Herzl.
zizit (Heb., "fringes")
See tallit.
Zohar
"Book of Splendor"; the chief literary work of the
kabalists. The author of the main part
of the Zohar was Moses de Leon (12th century) in Spain, but it is
pseudepigraphically ascribed to
the Palestinian
tanna Simeon bar Yohai (2nd century CE),
sometimes called RaShBaY (Rabbi Shimeon bar Yohai).
ẓulm (Arabic)
Zulm is the most basic Quranic
term for sin (wrong-doing, wrong-dealing).
End of Glossary.
Last modified:
Tuesday, 15-Oct-2013 21:53:48 EDT